Review/plot:
Mark Gruenwald sure knows how to run something into the ground. Just like he took a cute look in on the New Universe and turned it into a major storyline and then a multi-book crossover, this issue returns to the fondly remembered race in Quasar #17 and does it again, except this time even more ridiculously.

Makkari wins the race, but he's become so fast that the rest of the world has come to a standstill. He goes to Earth and checks in on the Avengers, the Eternals, and Quasar's supporting cast, who are all frozen. The Grandmaster offers to fix Makkari. He just has to wait 3,000 years and participate in another race first. Instead, Makkari figures out that the Energizer Bunny (sweet god) cheated during the race, and that "Buried Alien" who now calls himself Flashforward, sacrificed his chances to stop the rabbit. So they get the results of the race nullified and i guess that solves Makkari's problem in some way but i'm really not paying attention at this point. This is really indulgent crap.

Meanwhile, Quasar goes to the Living Tribunal and asks if he can get in to New Universe Earth to see Kayla Ballantine.

The Tribunal offers him the ability to go to the planet but on a permanent basis. If he goes, he can never leave. Quasar thinks about it, but declines. He leaves a message for Kayla.

What he doesn't know is that Kayla probably doesn't even see it because she's forgotten all about Quasar and is having the time of her life with Metallurgist.

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Quasar #60 will say that the events of Starblast happened two days ago, so this issue also doesn't take place too long after Starblast. Issue #60 will begin with Quasar still floating above New Universe Earth. Issue #59 is an out-of-sequence fill-in.

Comments

"This is really indulgent crap"- you said it. Gru and Roy Thomas could take contagious enthusiasm and beat it into your head so badly it just became draining and tepid.

Posted by:
Wis |
March 30, 2017 11:24 PM

I wonder how early on Gruenwald learned about the cancellation of Quasar? Because it would've been a nice way to end the series and retire the character by having him move to the New Universe Earth to live with Kayla, as promised by the Living Tribunal here, instead of the more depressing ending in issue #60.

Posted by:
Tuomas |
March 31, 2017 2:48 AM

Gru might have kept Quasar in circulation so that Star Masters might eventually get a shot, even if it wasn't going to spin directly out of Starblast. (I'm surprised to find on looking it up that Star Masters doesn't see print until late '95.)

Posted by:
Walter Lawson |
March 31, 2017 3:17 AM

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